Page 68 of A Lifetime of Afters
His eyes searched mine as he whispered, “You deserve better.”
Smoothing my hands from his abdomen to his chest, I grasped the front of his shirt. “Then give me better.”
Chapter Twenty-five - Consequences
Walking down Main Street Saturday morning with my cold hand tucked into the crook of his elbow felt all kinds of right.
On my birthday no less, possibly the best one I’d ever had. I woke that morning with Hawk in my bed and a shiny silver bangle clasped around my wrist.
With less than a week until Christmas, visitors had descended on our tiny village in full force. Sage Ridge, known for its seasonal festivals and celebrations, was no slouch at Christmas either. All four corners of the town square offered sweets for the tummy and treats for the eyes. Our giant Christmas tree reigned over all from the center of the square.
Plenty of locals bustled about as well. I lost count of how many people did a double-take when they saw us together. Hawk made no mention of it, but I wondered if the attention bothered him.
When your family went through a tragedy, you became somewhat of an unwilling spectacle. Your presence, a thrilling reminder of the fickle nature of fate. Their sorrow for you, outweighed only by their gratitude that it bypassed their household. The pitying looks. The ducking away when they didn’t know what to say.
But this type of attention didn't bother me at all. It would be terrible if he walked away from me again. I gave my head a little shake. No good came from thinking like that.
Hawk flexed his arm around my hand to get my attention.
I turned and looked into his eyes. Eyes that had seen me in every mood and had reflected every mood back to me at some point or another. Eyes I could read as easily as my own. Eyes that hid something, that something beingthe thingthat stood between us and the future I envisaged for us.
His brow furrowed. “Are you okay?”
“Yes,” I assured him, the warmth of his concern crowding out my worry. “I’m more than okay.” I tightened my grip on his elbow. “I’m happy.”
His lips curved in a sexy grin. “Good,” he muttered. “You deserve to be happy.”
“Yeah?” I teased.
“Definitely. And I’m going to see that you’re ecstatically happy when I get you home.”
I wrapped my other arm around his and pressed my breasts against his arm. “Might take a while.”
His lips quirked. “I’m up for the challenge.” Turning his body into mine, he backed me out of the pedestrian traffic until my back hit the wall. Looking down at me, he raised one thick eyebrow toward the handful of purchases he carried. “How much longer are we going to be shopping?”
I’d bought for Max, my dad, and Bruce. I may have gone a little bit overboard on my cat if Hawk’s rolled eyes were anything to go by. I knew what I wanted for Lou and Dan; I just hadn’t found the right one yet. But Harley was my wild card. I’d know the perfect gift when I saw it. Hawk’s gift, the only one I bought early, was already safely ensconced at his parents’ place.
I tilted my head. Sweetly saccharine, I patted his cheek softly and teased. “You have to be patient, sweetie.” Fascinated, I watched his eyes darken.
“You’re a brat,” he asserted, his jaw clenching.
I raised my brows in surprise. Did he mean in bed? Was I? I thought about Barrett, if we’d had this dynamic.
A second later Hawk’s hand wrapped around my jaw. “I don’t like to think about you with anyone else. Don’t think about him. Not when I’m standing here in front of you.”
I began to tease him but the intensity in his gaze stopped me. “I don’t think I’m a brat,” I whispered. “I think I’m testing your parameters.”
His eyes softened as his long fingers stroked my throat. “You want me to test yours? Is that what this is about?”
My eyelids fluttered shut. Did I want to be tested? I swallowed just as his thumb grazed over my Adam’s apple.
“Mouth dry, baby? Want me to put something in it?”
My lips parted as my eyes snapped back open, darting from side to side before returning to his. “Yes?”
His thumb stroked the line of my jaw. “You feeling a little unhinged? Want me to take the reins?”
“Yes.” Of that, I was sure.
